Here's a thesis: software engineers are the stem cells of business. Colleagues and I were talking over BBQ today and came to that conclusion (surprise, we're all software engineers).

I have a bachelors of science in computer science. I have been involved in sales, management, recruiting, marketing, graphic arts, tech writing, testing and of course development. Because of my education I don't think I'm uniquely qualified to do any of those roles (besides programming of course).

So how come (in a pinch) developers can fill other roles and not vice versa? Well, I think developers are smart. They also know a lot about whatever business they're in; they have to. They enjoy learning and can pick new disciplines and concepts up quickly. It also helps that software engineering is a very black art to the un-initiated.

Don't get me wrong, without other roles like sales and marketing I'd be slinging code in my moms basement after a full day at 7-Eleven. We need sales and business types.